Jhapa, Feb. 18 -- As dusk falls in Bahundangi, the locals brace themselves for a familiar routine. Herds of wild elephants cross the Mechi river from India and enter settlements, trampling crops, damaging homes and leaving villagers awake through the night. Human-elephant conflict has continued for years without victory for either side, turning the issue into a recurring election agenda that has yet to yield lasting solutions.

Kamal Rai, aged 74, of Bahundangi in ward 4 of Mechinagar Municipality recalls confronting elephants since childhood. "We used to chase them away with burning torches. Now they are not afraid of traditional deterrents including fire, noise, bees, and chilli smoke, or even electric fences," he said. According to Rai...